Copying machine control system with improved reliability of communication function among copying machiines and centralized control unit

Abstract

A copying machine control system according to the present invention is a copying machine control system including data terminals collecting data related to copying machines, and a centralized control unit performing communication of data with the terminals through a communication network. Each terminal includes a holding device for holding an identification code for initialization and a first transmitter for transmitting an identification code to the centralized control unit when the centralized control unit is connected to a copying machine. The centralized control unit includes a memory for storing the identification code held in the data terminal, a confirming device for confirming a data terminal on the basis of the identification code and a second transmitter for transmitting the data for initialization to the confirmed data terminal, and the data terminal further includes an initialization device. The data terminals collects a first data relating to the frequency of use of the copy machine and a second data relating to operation of the copier (such as jams), compares the second data to a prescribed range and updates the range by either narrowing or expanding the range depending on the frequency of use.

Claims

1. A control device for collecting data related to a copying machine and communicating with a centralized control unit on the basis of the collected data, comprising:

storing means, in said control device, for storing identification data for identifying a copying machine to be connected;

receiving means for receiving identification data from the copying machine; and

warning means for comparing the identification data stored in said storing means and the identification data received by the receiving means and generating a warning when the two disagree.

2. A copying machine control system including a data terminal for collecting data related to a copying machine and a centralized control unit for communicating with the data terminal through a communication network, wherein

said data terminal comprises:

first storing means for storing first and second passwords,

first password transmitting means for transmitting the first password stored in said first storing means to said centralized control unit after a connection is made to said centralized control unit,

first password receiving means for receiving a password from said centralized control unit after connection is made to said centralized control unit, and

first comparing means for comparing the password received by said first password receiving means and the second password stored in said first storing means and permitting data communication when the two agree with each other, and

said centralized control unit comprises,

second storing means for storing said first and second passwords,

second password transmitting means for transmitting the second password stored in said second storing means to said data terminal after a connection is made to said data terminal,

second password receiving means for receiving a password from said data terminal after a connection is made to said data terminal, and

second comparing means for comparing the password received by said second password receiving means and the first password stored in said second storing means to permit data communication when the password received by said second password receiving means and the first password stored in said second storing means agree with each other.

3. The copying machine control system according to claim 2, wherein

said centralized control unit further comprises,

first updating means for updating the first and second passwords stored in said second storing means, and

third password transmitting means for transmitting to said data terminal the first and second passwords updated by said first updating means, and

said data terminal further comprises,

second updating means for updating the first and second passwords stored in said first storing means to the first and second passwords transmitted from said third password transmitting means of said centralized control unit.

4. The copying machine control system according to claim 3, wherein the first updating means of said centralized control unit updates said first and second passwords during every communication with said data terminal.

5. A control device for collecting data related to a copying machine and communicating with a centralized control unit on the basis of the collected data, comprising:

storing means for storing first and second passwords;

password transmitting means for transmitting the first password stored in said storing means to said centralized control unit after a connection is made to said centralized control unit;

password receiving means for receiving a password from said centralized control unit after a connection is made to said centralized control unit;

control means for comparing the password received by said password receiving means and the second password stored in said storing means and permitting communication of data when the password received by said password receiving means and the second password agree with each other; and

updating means for updating the first and second passwords stored in said storing means to new first and second passwords transmitted from said centralized control unit after data communication is permitted.

6. An initialization method of a copying machine control system including a data terminal for collecting data related to a copying machine and a centralized control unit for communicating with said data terminal through a communication network, comprising the steps of:

providing an identification code to said data terminal;

storing the identification code provided to said data terminal into said centralized control unit;

installing said data terminal, to which the identification code has been provided, to the copying machine which is intended to be controlled thereby;

transmitting the identification code from the installed data terminal to said centralized control unit;

confirming the identification code transmitted from the installed data terminal by said centralized control unit;

transmitting data for initialization from said centralized control unit to the installed data terminal after confirming the identification code; and

carrying out an initialization operation by the installed data terminal on the basis of the data for initialization transmitted from said centralized control unit.

7. A copying machine control system including a data terminal for collecting data related to a copying machine and a centralized control unit for communicating with said data terminal through a communication network, wherein

said data terminal comprises:

holding means for holding an identification code for initialization, and

first transmitting means for transmitting the identification code for initialization to said centralized control unit when said data terminal is connected to the copying machine which is intended to be controlled,

said centralized control unit comprises:

storing means for storing the identification code for initialization held in said data terminal,

confirming means for confirming said data terminal on the basis of the identification code for initialization transmitted from said first transmitting means of said data terminal, and

second transmitting means for transmitting data for initialization to the data terminal confirmed by said confirming means, and

said data terminal further comprises:

initialization means for initializing said data terminal on the basis of the data for initialization transmitted from the second transmitting means of said centralized control unit.

8. The copying machine control system according to claim 7, wherein

said initialization data comprises a formal identification code and said data terminal further comprises storing means for storing the formal identification code.

9. A copying machine control system comprising:

a data terminal provided in the copying machine and connected to an external centralized control unit through a communication network;

setting means for setting primary identification codes for both said centralized control unit and said data terminal;

memory means for storing the primary identification codes set by said setting means;

initial confirming means for performing mutual confirmation with said centralized control unit by said primary identification codes through said data terminal when the copying machine is installed;

initialization means provided in said centralized control unit for transmitting data for initializing said data terminal and for transmitting a mutual identification code used for mutual confirmation with said centralized control unit for subsequent times when the mutual confirmation by said initial confirming means was completed; and

a control circuit to initialize said data terminal based on data for said initialization and to maintain the transmitted mutual identification code.

10. A copying machine control system according to claim 9, wherein said centralized control unit is connected to a plurality of data terminals and effects mutual confirmation with each data terminal by different mutual identification codes.

11. A copying machine control apparatus connected to the copying machine, communicating control information data with a centralized control unit provided at the position remote to the copying machine, comprising:

information collecting means for collecting first information relating to a number obtained by operation of the copying machine and second information different from the first information;

determining means for determining whether the second information is within a prescribed range;

communication means for transmitting an indication that the second information exceeds the prescribed range to the centralized control unit when said determining means determines that the second information exceeds the prescribed range; and

updating means for automatically updating said prescribed range based on said first information.

12. A copy machine control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first information is information related to a number of copying operations by the copying machine, obtained by calculating frequency of use of said copying machine from the number of copying operations within a prescribed period; and

said updating means narrows said prescribed range when said frequency of use is high and expands said prescribed range when the frequency of use is low.

13. A control unit for collecting data related to a copying machine and communicating with a centralized control unit on the basis of the collected data, comprising:

collecting means for collecting data related to operation of the copying machine;

determining means for determining whether or not said collected data is in a permittable range;

communicating means for calling said centralized control unit when said collected data is outside of the permittable range;

calculating means for calculating frequency of use of said copying machine; and

updating means for updating the permittable range of said determining means on the basis of the frequency of use of said copying machine.

14. The control unit according to claim 13, wherein said updating means expands the permittable range of said determining means when the frequency of use of said copying machine is lower than a predetermined frequency, and narrows said permittable range when said frequency of use is equal to or higher than said predetermined frequency.

15. The control unit according to claim 13, wherein said collecting means collects data related to paper jams.